U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Iowa
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Jump to a detailed profile or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
Business Search - 14 Million verified businesses
Search for:  near: 
Reply
 
Unread 07-30-2010, 12:44 PM
 
7 posts, read 6,963 times
Reputation: 17
Default considering a relocation to Iowa - any advice?

Hi there, my husband, son, and I are considering a move to Iowa in the next few years. We're in Texas now and we hate it. We're considering Arkansas for the beauty, but are a little wary of it's Bible belt status. My husband is originally from the midwest, and wants to seriously consider Iowa. By the time we move, I'll be a journeyman electrician and can get a job just about anywhere, so that's not an issue. We hate moving and really want this next move to be the last.

Our ideal town:
-small town, or at least a small town vibe
-surrounded by nature/beauty/hiking/camping
-good schools
-older homes and architecture that are well kept, not falling apart!
-bike lanes and/or superb public transit
-open minds...

Any suggestions?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Unread 07-31-2010, 04:28 PM
 
28 posts, read 58,199 times
Reputation: 25
Small town and "bike lanes/or supurb public transit" don't really go together.

People have VERY different ideas of what a small town is. I grew up in Keokuk and I believe its's about 12000 or so. My husband grew up in Donnellson and it's a town of 900.

You would have to be in say Iowa City, Des Moines, Ames, Cedar Rapids, etc. to get public transportation. I don't call them small towns.

We did live in Burlington for awhile. Had a beautiful old 1890 Victorian home I LOVED. We left again for work tho.

Good luck with your decision!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 07-31-2010, 04:59 PM
 
7 posts, read 6,963 times
Reputation: 17
Quote:
Originally Posted by darnae View Post
Small town and "bike lanes/or supurb public transit" don't really go together.

People have VERY different ideas of what a small town is. I grew up in Keokuk and I believe its's about 12000 or so. My husband grew up in Donnellson and it's a town of 900.

You would have to be in say Iowa City, Des Moines, Ames, Cedar Rapids, etc. to get public transportation. I don't call them small towns.

We did live in Burlington for awhile. Had a beautiful old 1890 Victorian home I LOVED. We left again for work tho.

Good luck with your decision!
Oh just a small town, laid back vibe is fine... guess I should have been more clear. We're from New Orleans, so a big city in a small package kind of feel is PERFECT for us.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 07-31-2010, 07:04 PM
 
Location: Midwest
1,003 posts, read 1,111,841 times
Reputation: 222
You would like Iowa City and possibly Des Moines.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 07-31-2010, 10:27 PM
 
Location: La La Land
30 posts, read 34,085 times
Reputation: 29
Check out Clear lake, Iowa. You may like that small town feel...or even Mason City, Iowa. Mason City is known for it's Merdith Wilson birthpalce and Frank Llyod Wright homes.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-13-2010, 12:01 PM
 
71 posts, read 54,714 times
Reputation: 59
Quote:
Originally Posted by RMolander View Post
Hi there, my husband, son, and I are considering a move to Iowa in the next few years. We're in Texas now and we hate it. We're considering Arkansas for the beauty, but are a little wary of it's Bible belt status. My husband is originally from the midwest, and wants to seriously consider Iowa. By the time we move, I'll be a journeyman electrician and can get a job just about anywhere, so that's not an issue. We hate moving and really want this next move to be the last.

Our ideal town:
-small town, or at least a small town vibe
-surrounded by nature/beauty/hiking/camping
-good schools
-older homes and architecture that are well kept, not falling apart!
-bike lanes and/or superb public transit
-open minds...

Any suggestions?
Sounds like you're a bit of a progressive. You won't find what you're looking for in much of the midwest outside of perhaps Minneapolis, and University Towns like Iowa City.

Personally I'd recommend some of the larger cities like Portland, San Francisco, LA, Denver, Chicago, Miami, etc.

Iowa is a great place because it's like America was 20 years ago...

...you know, before the progressives destroyed the schools, and nearly everything else in society.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-14-2010, 03:26 AM
 
7,730 posts, read 9,604,162 times
Reputation: 5239
I'd have to say Iowa City as well...
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-14-2010, 06:08 PM
 
Location: Des Moines, IA
1,743 posts, read 4,053,556 times
Reputation: 1090
There's Iowa City of course but perhaps Ames might suit your fancy. They do have a bus system, I think it's fairly bike friendly and Ledges State Park isn't too far off. As I'm sure you know hiking and natural beauty aren't really things Iowa is known for but that park has some of the best scenery and hiking (it's a hilly river valley with streams and cliffs) in the area. I hear there's good hike-in camping there as well, but I haven't done it (yet). Some parts of it really don't look like you're in Iowa.

Ames has good schools, older homes (at least they're not suburb cookie-cutter homes) and pretty much all the amenities one could reasonably expect.


I don't know if I'm stating the obvious but that's where Iowa State University is. It's pretty straight-laced for a college town, but it seems like it would be a nice place to live.
__________________
"If you live in one place long enough, you are that place" - Rocky Balboa
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-14-2010, 11:13 PM
 
Location: Oregon
480 posts, read 447,507 times
Reputation: 192
Quote:
Originally Posted by Movingrightalong... View Post
Sounds like you're a bit of a progressive. You won't find what you're looking for in much of the midwest outside of perhaps Minneapolis, and University Towns like Iowa City.

Personally I'd recommend some of the larger cities like Portland, San Francisco, LA, Denver, Chicago, Miami, etc.

Iowa is a great place because it's like America was 20 years ago...

...you know, before the progressives destroyed the schools, and nearly everything else in society.

I thought "RMolander" was looking for older homes w/ architecture, and good schools? I haven't been much to some of these cities you list except travelling through them, but it is obvious that you haven't been to Portland yourself if you are suggesting Portland as a city that has these two traits.

Most homes ( I'd say over 60% throughout the metro area ) are built after the 1970's, and our schools? We have one school after another that has closed and merged with either another school or closed all together.

IMO, Iowa would be a great place too--they ( and most midwest cities ) don't seem to export a lot of their jobs so their CEO's can save a few dollars at the expense of putting thousands out of work, but it is definitely debatable on the progressives destroying "nearly everything else in society" when corporate CEO's are getting huge bonuses for destroying a company themselves, you know.....like banks, mortgage companies, insurance companies, others like HP, BP, etc.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Unread 08-17-2010, 08:32 AM
 
18 posts, read 13,403 times
Reputation: 11
I would suggest Iowa City, but i'd also be prepared for horrible weather and floods....to be honest. I'd choose a drier state. I'm trying to get out of IA for that very reason. Terrible humidity in the summer, and VERY cold in the winter....if you like extremes, then you'll love it.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Options
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2005-2010 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram

Over $47,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > Iowa

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:09 PM.

© 2005-2013, Advameg, Inc.

City-Data.com - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 - Top